The New Economy Fund
                             333 South Hope Street
                       Los Angeles, California 90071-1406
                              Phone (213) 486 9200



                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



TIMOTHY D. ARMOUR,  President and PEO, and DAVID A. PRITCHETT,  Treasurer of The
New Economy Fund (the  "Registrant"),  each certify to the best of his knowledge
that:

1)   The  Registrant's  periodic  report  on Form  N-CSR  for the  period  ended
     November 30, 2003 (the "Form N-CSR"),  fully complies with the requirements
     of  Section  13(a) or  15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
     amended; and

2)   The  information  contained  in the  Form  N-CSR  fairly  presents,  in all
     material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
     Registrant.


Chief Executive Officer                       Chief Financial Officer

THE NEW ECONOMY FUND                          THE NEW ECONOMY FUND


/s/ Timothy D. Armour                          /s/ David A. Pritchett
- -------------------------------               -----------------------------
Timothy D. Armour, President                  David A. Pritchett, Treasurer
Date: February 5, 2004                        Date: February 5, 2004


A signed  original  of this  written  statement  required  by Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to THE NEW ECONOMY FUND and will be
retained by THE NEW ECONOMY FUND and  furnished to the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") or its staff upon request.

This  certification  is being furnished to the Commission  solely pursuant to 18
U.S.C.  Section 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Form N-CSR filed with
the Commission.